Jennifer Hom's Illustration Process for 'I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door'

On February 3, 2017, illustrator Jennifer Hom shared insights into her creative process for 'I Lift My Lamp Beside the Golden Door,' an artwork she developed. The piece features the Statue of Liberty, inspired by Hom's personal connection to immigration and her mother's admiration for the monument. Hom explained that the illustration began as a response to recent societal changes in the United States, aiming to uphold the nation's spirit of immigration. She intends to donate all proceeds from print sales to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to support their efforts. The process involved initial color pencil sketches, which were refined into digital line drawings in Photoshop, where Hom added character to figures in the torch, including depictions of loved ones who immigrated. Color application focused on the statue's iconic oxidized copper tones, followed by meticulous color correction. Hom, a Chinese American from suburban Long Island, New York, pursued art from a young age, drawing fantasy themes. She earned a BFA in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and has worked at Google and Uber. The illustration is available for purchase online, with profits directed to the ACLU.